Crime Stoppers of Houston Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Crime Stoppers of Houston's mission is to solve and prevent crime in the Greater Houston area in partnership with citizens, media and the criminal justice system.
- Income
- $3.8 million
- Spending
- $4.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 9.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 62%
- Employees
- 32
- Volunteers
- 1,254
- Highest pay
- $307,608, ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 73 out of 100.
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 9.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 8% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 26% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2527 of 27 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (3)
- $1.6 million spent. Safe School Institute: The Crime Stoppers of Houston (CSOH) Safe School Institute (SSI) exists to prevent violence and promote safer learning environments by delivering age-appropriate, evidence-based safety education to students, educators, and school communities across Texas. SSI programs include in-person and digital student safety presentations, educator training, youth engagement initiatives, reporting tools, and statewide prevention campaigns such as Million for Million.Continued on Schedule O.In 2025, SSI expanded safety access and visibility statewide by launching new instructional content on consent, AI awareness, digital literacy, and mental health; producing a new TIPS reporting video; and delivering Spanish-language virtual training series for educators across all 20 Education Service Centers. SSI strengthened partnerships through 12 new MOUs, supported new Safe School programs in additional counties, distributed more than 2,300 backpacks to Title I schools across multiple regions, and engaged over 100 student volunteers while assembling 3,000+ Child ID Kits. During the year, SSI reached 245,892 students with face-to-face education, 17.6 million students via digital education, 33,543 school staff and law enforcement professionals, and 327,951 parents and community members, contributing to a combined 12+ million people reached since inception across the Safe School and Safe Community Institutes in 82 Texas counties, demonstrating measurable, scalable impact in school safety and prevention education.
- $1.6 million spent. Tip Line Program: CSOH operates 713-222-TIPS, a telephone tip line. Information about criminal activity is received and transferred to law enforcement for immediate action. Callers are promised anonymity and cash rewards of up to $5,000 in exchange for accurate crime tips. Our organization provides a safe forum for citizens to report crime in their neighborhoods and schools without the fear of retaliation. We are the eyes and ears of law enforcement in the community.Continued on Schedule O.In 2025, the Tip Line received 11,869 tips which assisted law enforcement in solving 359 cases ranging from Capital Murder to Fugitive Warrants that led to 201 suspects being charged and/or arrested. These tips resulted in the seizure of 33 weapons and $526,109.85 in illegal drugs seized plus $712,530 in stolen property/cash recovered. The approved Reward payout to 180 men, women and students totaled $204,150. CSOH received $43,597 of restricted cash from court fines to help pay tipster rewards and three area law enforcement agencies donated services valued at $1,969,000 to process and investigate the anonymous tips.
- $907,172 spent. The Safe Community Institute advances public safety by equipping communities, professionals, and public safety stakeholder with prevention education, victim-centered advocacy, and data-driven insights that strengthen systems and reduce harm. SCI programs include the Safe Community Program, Victim Services, the NEEDS Program, the Glenda Gordy Research Center (GGRC), and The Balanced Voice podcast.Continued on Schedule O.In 2025, SCI achieved significant statewide impact by providing statistics to aid Texas lawmakers writing public safety legislation, launching a redesigned GGRC crime data website, expanding The Balanced Voice with a fully Spanish-language series, and creating the Texas Victims' Rights and Support Hub set to launch in 2026. SCI also delivered new content addressing emerging risks, including a 12-part AI video series and adult mental health resources, hosted its largest volunteer event to date with 400 students assembling Child ID Kits, and established 10 new partnerships. Through digital platforms, research tools, advocacy, and direct services, the Safe Community Institute reached more than 1 million community members in 2025 and contributed to a total organizational reach of 4.4 million people, reinforcing SCI's role as a statewide leader in prevention, victim support, and public safety innovation.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 1981.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.